Overview
This programme trains biologists to engage with the societal challenges of the 21st century by combining deep biological knowledge with the ability to communicate and reflect critically on the impacts of biology. Core instruction covers animal and plant genetics, evolution, physiology and reproduction, while also teaching methods for effective science communication so graduates can inform the public, businesses, policymakers and regulatory authorities.
Curriculum highlights and themes
Students explore real-world ethical and societal questions tied to modern biology — for example, the implications of medical CRISPR-Cas9 uses and reproductive technologies for individual self-determination; the public-health consequences of antibiotic resistance projected to outpace major cancer deaths by 2050; and how hormonal pollution, doping or food composition affect bodily integrity. The programme also addresses the limits and lessons of animal experiments and encourages continual critical scrutiny of the field.
Research integrity and policy
A strong emphasis is placed on research ethics, scientific methods, science policy, the regulation and practice of animal testing, and good scientific practice. Graduates are prepared to bring biological understanding into societal debates and decision-making while maintaining high standards of ethical and methodological reflection.
Core topics and competencies
This Master's program explores the relationships between biological knowledge and societal challenges, combining human-focused biology, applied organismal science, and science-policy training across four semesters. In the first semester you study "Biology and Human Society" (topics include human evolution, population genetics, human behaviour, human ecology and the biology of 21st‑century health challenges), alongside the interdisciplinary "Science for Society" package (ethics, GLP, law, science policy, statistical methods, and science communication) and a module on economically important animals and plants (transgenic livestock and crop plants, insects, plant parasites). The second semester deepens molecular and organismal foundations with "Genetics & Developmental Biology" (molecular genetics, stem cells, developmental biology), "Organismic Zoology" (advanced evolutionary biology, reproductive biology, biomaterials, ecological lipidology, genetic forensics) and "Physiology" (animal testing qualification, doping, endocrinology).
Hands‑on research and technical training are central: the third semester is devoted to a basic lab rotation and an advanced lab rotation (the latter being students’ own research projects) together with targeted skills courses such as advanced microscopy, statistics, reproduction techniques and epigenetics. The fourth semester is reserved for the Master’s thesis, during which you integrate theoretical knowledge and practical experience into an independent research project. Throughout the program you gain competencies that bridge laboratory practice, critical evaluation of societal and legal contexts, and science communication—preparing you for research, regulatory, industry or policy‑related roles where biology intersects with society.
Key modules
Learning outcomes
Applicants must already hold a first university degree in Biology or a closely related field. In practice, this means a completed undergraduate qualification (for example, a Bachelor’s degree or international equivalent) that provides a solid foundation in biological sciences.
“Related subject” can cover a range of life‑science and interdisciplinary degrees. If your background isn’t strictly titled “Biology,” check that your previous studies included substantial biological content, or that your course focus aligns with the program’s topics.
Winter Semester (International)
31 May 2026
Winter Semester (EU/EEA)
15 July 2026
Graduates are prepared for roles that bridge biology and society, including positions in science communication, policy advising, regulatory authorities, NGOs, and industry (e.g., biotech, pharmaceuticals, and environmental consultancies). The programme’s focus on ethics, research methods, animal testing qualification and science communication equips alumni to work in public engagement, compliance and advisory functions where biological knowledge must be translated into societal, legal or political contexts.
Those seeking research careers can continue to PhD programmes in molecular biology, evolutionary biology, physiology or interdisciplinary life-science research. The practical lab rotations and thesis also make graduates attractive for research technician roles or applied laboratory positions in academic and private-sector labs, while the programme’s emphasis on policy and ethics supports careers in health policy, bioethics committees and science governance bodies.